adams



N Model.) sheets-sheet 1. G.. B. ADAMS.

GUPP -BUlrffm'-V No. 376,500. Patented Jan. 17, 1888.

Wl NESSES: INVENTUHI George E, .H dams @5M @Amst N. PETERS Pham-Limographm, wamngxon. D, c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Gr., B. ADAMS. HUH* BUTTON.

No. 376,500.. y 'Patented Jan. 17.1888.

.llllllllllllllf v a2 d' vda / Page362 WITNEssEs; INVENTUB:

George @..Hdums B@ATTYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. ADAMS, OF NEWARK, JERSEY, ASSGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE ADAMS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLAGE. Y

CUFFBUTTON.

SPEC-ICATTON forming part of Letters Patent No. 376.500, dated January 17, 1888.

Application filed Decombtr 29,1886. Serial No. 222,872. (No mo'lel.) l

To all whom, t may concernl button when formed as indicated in Figs. 6 Be it known that I, GEORGE 13. ADAMs, a and 8. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section ofthe citizen of the United States, residing at Newclamping head and shoe. Figs. 9 and 10 are ark, in the countyV ofEsseX and State of New perspective views of the spring and shank,

Jersey, have invented certain new and useful respectively, employed in the button shown 55 Improvements in Cuff-Buttons; `and Ido herein section in Fig. 8; and Fig. 11 is a perspecby declare the following to be a full, clear, tive view of the head and shank, the shoe and exact description of the invention, such as being omitted and the button turned with the will enable others skilled in the art to which under side uppermost. Fig. 12 is a side elero it appertains to make and use the same, refervation of a form of button in which the shank 6o ence being had to the accompanying drawings, is carried forward to the center of the head. and to letters of reference marked thereon,` Figs. 13 and 14 are perspective views ofdifterwhich form a part of this specification. ent forms of shanks used in the button shown The general class of inventions to which in Fig. 12. -Fig15 is a similar view of the x5 the devices herein described refers is cuff-butunder plate of the button shown in Fig. 12 65 tous and cuff-holders which are used to retain and the shank shown in Fig. 1t pivoted in the cuffs in thesleeves of agarment,avoiding said plate.

thereby the necessity of pinning the same to- On Sheet 2, Fig. 16 is a side elevation ofa gether, asis the usual custom, and also the shank and shoe formed from a single piece of 2o annoyance'caused by the want of any suitable metal. Fig. 17 is a section of a cutf, a portion 70 means for fastening the same. of the inner sleeve, and an elevation of the The improvements herein described are debutton, illustrating the relation of said parts signed to provide a device which will effectuwhen the button is used to clamp ythe inner ally perform all the functions of a combined instead of the outer sleeve. Figs. 18, 19, and entf-button and cuff-holder, and which may 20 are side elevations of the button, showing 75 also be used as an ordinary cuff-button,with several different constructions thereof. Fig.

nothingtomartheontwardappearancethereof, 21 is asection of a form of button having a and which, by reason of its construction,will yielding tooth. Figs. 22 to 27, inclusive, arepermit of greater variety of design and ornaviews of the several parts used in said button.

3o mentation of the button. Fig. 28 is a side elevation of a modified con- 8o In the accompanying sheets of drawings,in struction of the face of the button, the cuff which is illustrated the improved device, and sleeve being indicated by dotted lines; Figure 1 is a perspective view of the comand Figs.29 and 30 are respectively a section bined cuff-button and cuffholder and of the of a solid recessed head portion alone and an cuff and sleeve to which the same is attached. arrangementof the operative-parts of the com- 85 Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the button de plete button therewith. Figs. 31 and 32 are 'cached from the cuff, showing the relative porespectively a-plan of a. blank form of shank sition of the clamping head and shoe. Fig. 3 and shoe formed in one piece and a perspective is a similar View illustrating the relative poview of the same when shaped up. Fig.

o sition of said head and shoe when placed for 34 is a section of a completebutton, indicating 90 insertion in the cuff, the normal relative poa peculiarform of shank, shown morein detail sition being indicated by dotted lines. Fig/1 in the perspective in views 35 and 36;V and vis a side elevation of the button when ar- Fig. 33 is a side elevation of a. form of conranged'in holding relation with the cuit' and struction in which the ends of the clamping sleeve, which are shown in section in said portions ofthe head and shoe approach near View; and Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the together without inclining one toward the button and a section of the cuff, illustrating other. the button when used as a simple cuff-button. Similar letters of reference indicate corre- Fig. 6 is a plan of the under side of the butspending parts in each of said views.

5o ton. Fig. 7 is a plan of the lower plate of the .The essential and elemental features of the roo combined cuff-button and cuff-holder illustrated in the above-deseribed views are a head portion or face, a, a shoe or back plate, b, and a shank, c, to which said head portion is pivotally attached, said head and shoe being so arranged in relation to each other and the shank that they converge one toward the other, or the clamping ends thereof approach each other when the parts of the button are in their normal relative position when detached from the cuff. This peculiar normal relation ofthe head and shoe is essential to the proper operation of the said head and shoe in clamping the sleeve and cuff` therebetween, as the holding capacity of thejaws or clamping head and shoe port-ions depends entirely upon the distance between the clamping ends thereof, exercising but little or no pressure when situated relatively as in Figs. 2, 12, Sie., and bringing considerable pressure to bear when standing as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 17, and separated hy the interposed sleeve and cuff.

The relation of the head and shoe to the shank may besuch that either the head forms a right angle with said shank with the shoe inclining toward said head, as in Fig. 2, or the shoe forms a right angle with said shank with the head inelining toward said shoe, as illustrated in Fig. 18, or said head and shoe may be inclined toward each other at equal or different degrees of inclination, as will be understood. The relative points of attachment of said head and shoe to said shank may vary, either or both being attached centrally, as in Fig. 19, or eeeentrically to said shank, as indicated in the majority of said views in the drawings.

The face or head portion a of the button, which comes directly in contact with the outer sleeve, may be of any shape or design, several illustrations of which are shown in the drawings.

The construction shown in Figs. 1 to 12, inelusive,which consists of a easing or chambered head, is advantageous, inasmuch as the cavity a permits the arrangement and concealment of the spring a therein, and that portion or end c of the shank which projects within the said head and is pivoted therein. In lieu of forming said head into a casing stamped up l from sheet metal, as in said abovementioned figures, a solid button, d, (shown in Figs. 29 and 30,) may be used, grooved or recessed in the under side at d to receive the spring and the end c of the shank, which is fulcrumed in the plate d secured to the button, or is pivotally secured thereto.

While, as above specified, the head may be attached to the shank at the center thereof or out of the center or eccentric thereto and produce a button ofpractical utility, yet the greatest advantage is attained by pivoting the head portion eccentrically to the shank. By this construction and arrangement the greatest freedom of action in raising or lowering the head portion away from and toward the sleeve and cui` is attained, since but a small portion of the head extends beyond the side of the pivotal point that is depressed, sufficient to hide the shank, and permits of suitable elevation of the clamping end ot' the head away from the sleeve before the opposite end of said head beyond the pivotal point strikes the cuff, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 19, the shank is pivotally attached to the center of the head; but the movement of the said head is restricted by the length of the same on each side ofthe pivotal point, and necessitates a much longer shank to permit the requisite movement of the head than is required when said shank is pivotcd eccentrieally to said head. The advantage of the centrally-pivotcd attachment of the shankv and head, however, is considerable, particularly when the device is worn simply as an ordinary cuff-button, since'by such arrangement thehead of the button is caused tolie centrally over the button-hole in the cuff and the appearance thereof is greatly improved there by. the button is called into play, the sleeve extends close to the button-hole and the relation of the button to the said button-hole is not made so prominent, and hence the eccentric arrangement of the shank and head may be used without marriug the appearance of the button.

While the function of a sleeve-holder constitutes an important feature of theinvention, and such forms of construction that tend to cause the more perfect operation of the button for that purpose are desirable, itis also important that the said button shall not be constructed in such a manner to perform the office ofa sleeve-holder thatits use and appearance as an ordinary cuff-button are injured or spoiled.

As a sleeve-holder it is desirable that the head portion shall move from and toward the sleeve freely and open to such a distance as to permit the ready insertion of the sleeve thereunder, shall seize the sleeve with sufficient force and in such a manner as to hold the same firmly, shall lie on the sleeve parallel with the cuff, and shall expose as little ofthe shank as possible.

As a cuff-button it is desirable that thehead portions shall lie centrally over the buttonhole, shall lie flat on or close to the cuff, or approximately so, and shall be so constructed that the design of said head portion may be varied.

The eccentric pivoting of the head and shank, as before mentioned, gives the greatest freedom of movement to the head, and also permits the ready insertion and removal of the sleeve. rllhe peculiar relation of the shoe and head to each other, as hereinbefore mentioned-viz., the inclination thereof one to the otherHallows the leveling of the head in relation to the arm, and the use of a short shank and the strength ofthe spring and the kind of tooth or holding device used determine the firmness with which the sleeve is held under the head.

Then the function of a sleeve-holder of h IIO While -these several objects are thus pro-i struction the shank is carried or extended to with equal facility as a combined-cuff and sleeve holder, or a simple cuff-button.

When the head portion consists of an inclosng shell or casing, a, and a bottom plate, a3, held within the shell by the inturned lower edges, a, thereof, as indicated inv Fig. 8, 85e., the portion c2 may lie in the space between the plate as andthe'cuff formed by the inturned edges at, as shown in Figs. 12 and 21, thereby permitting the under side ofthe buttonto lie closed and [iat on the cuff; or the said plate a3 may be cut away at tti-Figs'. 7, l5, and 84, from the pivotal point to the center of said plate,and said portions c2 may lie in said opening thus formed. Indicated more clearly in Fig. 15.)

When th'eshank is formed to liein the space between-the plate a3 and the cuff, it may be ,shaped as shown inFig. 13;. but when arranged in the recess or opening a5 it is preferably formed as in Fig. 14. In all of theviews in the drawings the shank is hinged or pivoted to the head portion of the button by forming the ends c with projecting arms orjournals c", which lie in suitable recesses, a, in the plate a3, the projections c?, extending beyond said journals, being formed thereon or not, according to the amount of leveragerequired. However, the form and manner of pivoting the shank and head together may be varied from thatshown in the drawings, and also theshape of the said shank in cross-section may be` changed from the constructions illustrated, as these are features which are susceptible of many variations without departing from the spirit of my invention.

To providel positive means for retaining the sleeve under the head the same may be pro-` videdwithholdingdevices,which enterintothe sleeve, as indicated in Fig. 4, thereby preventing the withdrawal of the same. Said holding devices or teeth e may project straight out from the lower side of the head neXt to the sleeve, or may be inclined at -anl angle, and may either be rigidly yattached to the lface, as

shown in Figs. 8, 30, 33, &c.,` or may be so constructed as to yield and turn up or away from said lower side of the head, leaving the same free from any projections which will prevent the said lower side of the head from lying close down on the cuff'.

In Figs. 2l to 27, inclusive, are shown several forms of construction adapted to secure the desired effect, in which a pivoted or yielding arrangement of a tooth is illustrated, the plate a3 being recessed at a9 .to receive the same, or provided with openings al, to allow the projection therethrough of a tooth at-l tached to the end as of the spring, as in Fig. 26.

The same spring which engages with the end c' of the shank maybe so formed as to co operate with the pivoted tooth, having the spring portions c2 and a5 and the rigid post a7. In Fig. 25 is illustrated a construction of a repressible tooth,in which said tooth is arranged in asmall easing having a spiral spring therein, which bears upon the top of the tooth, said casing being secured within the recessed head or button, and the tooth projecting through an opening formed in the bottom plate, as indicated in Fig. 23. *The tooth or teeth may also befformed from or secured to the end a8 of the spring a2, as in Fig. 26, and project down from the under side ot' the button, the spring being rigidly held at the saine end, to which one or more teeth may be attached, as desired.

In some instances the tooth may be removed` or omitted entirely, and the holdingl of the sleeve attained solely by the strength of the spring. This is particularly advantageous when the material of the dress is very tine and delicate,and which would become-torn by the teeth were they used.

If-desirable, the head may be made in imitation of some natural object and the teeth worked in the design, as in Fig. 28, in which the teeth of the Walrus are utilized to secure the retention of the sleeve. In Figs. 31 and 32 is illustrated a construction in which the shank or shoe is formed from one piece of metal, the shoe cf being either left as shown, or covered with a shell, as is the common form of construction.

In order to prevent the possibility of the portion c of the shank drawing up th roughv the button-hole as the head is recessed, whenfornied as indicated in Figs. 12, l5, 2l, 85e., a lip or projection may be formed at c6, eX- tending a slight distance over the button-hole.

Instead of providing the head with theholding-teeth to retain the cuff within the outer sleeve, a tooth may be formed upon the shoe, as indicated in Fig. 17, which engages the band of the shirt sleeve.

The arrangement and construction of the spring which is used to cause the head and shoe to seize the material of the sleeve or cuff orto hold the head down upon the sleeve may be varied according to the requirements of the IOO ILO

several designs that may be used. Vhen a recessed or chambered head or button, as indicated in Fig. 1, et seq., and Figs. 2S and 30, is used, the spring may be, and preferably is, arranged in said recess or chamber and bears upon the pivotal end of the shank to produce the desired holding-power.

Thile the inclined arrangement of the head or shoe, or both, wit-l1 respect to their converging relations to one another when detached from the cuff, which necessitates the spreading apart thereof when in the cuff, and thereby clamps the same, is thought to be the most practical and ornamental construction for this purpose, still the construction shown in Fig. 33 may be used to advantage, in which the head and shoe are parallel, or approximately so, and the shoe caused to approach the head by forming a tooth or lng, e, on said shoe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new isl. Acombinedcuff-buttonand acuff holder, consisting of a face or head portion, a shoe or back-plate, and a shank connecting said head and base portion, said head being pivotally attached to said shank, and said head and shoe portions inclining or converging normally one toward the other, and adapted, when the button is inserted in the caff, to grasp or clamp the material of said cuit' and sleeve between the converging ends thereof, and a spring constructed and arranged to cause said shoe and head to grip or seize said material, for the purposes set forth.

2. A combined cuff-button and cuff holder, consisting of an eccentrically-pivotcd head portion or face, a shank to which said head is pivoted eccentrically extending from the eccentric pivotal point thereof toward or to the center of said head, and then projecting centrally,orapproximately so, from said head, and a shoe or hack plate Iattached to said shank, said head and shoe portions inclining or converging, normally, one toward the other, and adapted, when the button is inserted in the cuff, to grip or to clalnp the material of said cuff and the sleeve between the converging ends thereof, and a spring constructed and arranged to cause the said shoe and head to grip said material, for the purposes set forth.

3. A combined cuff-button and cnfholder, consisting of a face or head portion provided with 011e or more holding-teeth projecting therefrom toward the sleeve and constructed and arranged to turn away from the undersurface ofsaid head, for the purposes set forth, a shank to which said head is pivotally attached, and a shoe o1' back-plate, said head and shoe portionsinclining or converging, normally, one toward the other, constructed and arranged, when the button is inserted into the cuff, to grip or clamp the said cuff and sleeve between thc converging ends thereof, and a spring con structed and arranged to cause said head and shoe to seize and hold the said sleeve, for the purposes set forth.

4. A combined cuff-button and cuff-holder,

consisting of a head or button provided with a tooth or teeth on the under side thereof, a shank to which said button is hinged or pivoted, a shoe or back-plate secured to the oppo site end ofsaid shank constructed and arranged so as to incline toward or approach the said head, and a spring constructed and arranged to cause the holding contact of said head with the sleeve when adjusted in the cuff, for the purposes set forth.

5. In a cuff-button, the combination of a recesscd chambcred head or button provided with a tooth or teeth on the under side thereof, a shank to which said button is hinged or pivoted, a shoe or back-plate secured to the 0pposite end ot' said shank, constructed and arranged so as to incline toward or approach said head, and a spring arranged in said recessed or chambercd head and engaging with the end of the shank pivoted thereto, for thc purposes set forth.

6. In a cuffbntton, the combination of an eccentrically-pivoted recessed or chambercd head or button provided with a tooth or teeth on the under side thereof, a shank to which said head is pivoted eccentrically extending from the eccentric pivotal point thereof toward or to the center of said head and then projecting centrally, or approximately so, from said head, a shoe or baekplate secured to the opposite end ofsaid shank, constructed and ar ranged so as to incline toward or approach said head, and a spring arranged in said re ccssed or chambered head and engaging with the end of the shank pivotcd thereto, for the purposes set forth.

7. In a cuff-button, the combination of a recessed or chambered head or button, a shank to which said button is hinged or pivoted, a

shoe or vback-1 )late secured to the opposite end ofsaid shank, constructed and arranged so as to incline toward or approach said head, and a spring arranged in said chambered head and having oppositely arranged free ends, one of which engages with the end of the shank to which said head is pivoted, and the other free end being provided with a tooth or teeth thereon projecting downward from the under side ot' said head, for the purposes set forth.

S. In a cuff-button, the combination of a chambcred head or button consisting of a casing having an under plate, a, provided with an opening, un, extending to or approximately to the center of said casing, a shank pivoted or hinged eecentrically to said easing in said opening, and extending in said opening to or approximately to the center and then bent away from said easing, a shoe or back-plate secured to the end of said shank projecting away from said casing, constructed and arranged so as to incline toward or approach said head, and a spring arranged in said casing and engaging with the ends of said shank pivoted to said casing, for the purposes set forth.

9. In a cuff-button, the combination of an eceentrically pivoted or hinged head or but- IIO IIS

IZO

ton, a shank to Whioh'said head is pivoted and Contact of said head with the sleeve and cuff' hinged, and extending from the eccentricallywhen inserted in said cuff, for the purposes pivoted point to or toward the center of the set forth. said head, and then bent away from said head In testimony that I claim the invention set 5 and provided with a projection, of", at the forth above I have hereunto set my hand this r 5 angle formed by said bent shank, for the pur- 22d day of December, 1886.

poses set forth, a shoe or back-plate con- GEORGE B. ADAMS structed and arranged so as to incline toward Witnesses: or approach the said head, and a spring eon- FREDK. F. CAMPBELL,

Io structed and arranged to cause the holding FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL. 

